Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-10-28


lie had borne the reproaches of Laroquc, the
lI'cf of Suzanne, and now it was his mothers
turn. He was to hear her questions and
answer them. He was TO witness heo flushes
of shame her tears. His motherl And this
was to come to her through him, her best
loved son, who had thus to become her judge
1t was afternoon and already the shadows
were lengthening, and Raymond felt glad
that darkness would soon fall upon them and
50 make his task a little easier. He main
tanned silence until he felt her soft hand fall
upon his shoulder.
"Nou are sad and prcoccupied, my SON.
What troubles YOU"
"Nothirg," said he hoarscly, feeling him
self, after all, incapable of bringing about
what he knew must take place.
She sighed as she said:
My poor boy, it is not easy for you to tell
a lie. Do not try it with me- NJ. Forney
told me you refused the hand of Suzanne.
You do not answer. 1t is true then"
lie bowed his head.
"Why this strange and sudden change. l
have "a right to know. Your duty is to tell
me-"
Il shall not answer"
"What reproach can you bring against that
pure oud noble EirlF
"NctLing, nothing"
- llcf lOl lef luClE
Nor him, eiiher. poor unhappy mani"
"Ihcn | cannot understand you at all.
! Why this mysteryl Speak. l command you.
Have You any rcproach to make against me.
your mother, wbo has loved you sol'
She had said this last, obeying some occult
| power, AMI when she had uttered the words
She stood breathcsS waiting his answer. What
il her past was known! Why had she said
| thutl
You wish to know all, mother.'
81 do, for ! know there must be some su-
preme reason for this inexplicablc conduct on
! your part"
He gathered his remaining strength, and
then said slowly:
"TLere Is a grave secret in NJ. Forney's life
His name is not Forney, but it hides another
which is known to you, and which was dis
bonored.n
"Dishonored, you say?
"lcs, by an infamous condemnation. For
ney is an escaped convict, condemned for
assassination to hard labor for life in New
Caledonia, from whence he escaped to
America"
She had been standing, butnow fell into
| chair, almost fainting.
His name his real Nance" she cried in a
strangiiug voice.
Roger Laroque, my fathers friendm
She lad known what he was going to say
before he pronounced the words. But a wild
hope made her ask. Perhaps he did not know
all Tut when she heard those words, uttered
Wi1h stcciv hardness She felt that nothing
| was hidden from her son. She was so white
that one would have said she had secret
wound from which every drop of her life
blood mad flowed. Her son dared not look at
her Still She did not faint, but tried to over
come her agitation, and lie for his sake, for
she could not bear to let him believe all he
knew.
"Why, yes, l believe I do remember the
fact. This Roger Laroque, the wretch, he
killed man to rob him, and-and thc-the
eXertion Of defending him was too much for
your poor father, who was III very feeble
health. But he had an idea that this Roger
had saved his life once and so bis honor
obliged him to defend the case But for that
your father might be alive today
Raymond turned then and said slowly,
looking his mother full in the eyes, You see
now why this marriage cannot take lace.n
"Yes, yes; see. A convict's daughter
OF course you could not be expected to think
of it now
"Of course not, . answered he in singular
tone.
She breathed. He knew nothing then but
this. She was so glad that she forgot to be
astoni,hcd at the fact that this man was
Roger and she had not known it. She felt
trlnqWizel and relieved, and gave a long
sigh. She had come so near the catastrophe.
My poor boy!' said she My dearest
sonm
But Raymond continued:
Roger Laroque was condemned, but DO
you believe lie was guilty."
"Certainy. Your father tried in vain to
save him, and besides be avowed his crime,
which perhaps you DO not know"
II repeat my question: DO you believe
him guilty."
"You ask a strange question. I have al
ready answered.
, Every well; I tell you he is Innocent
CHOW do you knowa All convicted GRIM
inals say they are innocent. Everybody
knows that
, He rose trusquely and walked back and
forth two or three times, and then said bit
terlv, looking at her with hard and pene-
trating glance:
'Ah, mother, mother take care! Do not
perjure yourself"
MY poor son, you must suffer greatly to
speak SO cruelty to me-"
II neither want nor need your pity
"Raymond, pardon you"
"Nor do l want your pardon
, 'I;rc.t God!'
"Roger Laroque Is innocent, and it is not
| that ignominy which forbids me to wed his
daughter"
| "How can You certify to his innocencew
, "a woman played a part in this frightful
drama. DO you hear, mother-a womanN
The guilty mother began again to tremble
t Violently. She stammered:
II hear, my SON."
, "a woman whom Laroque would not name,
| though in naming her he might have saved
5 himself"
, Romance"
"Truth This woman had borrowed money
from him and had been his-mstress; and to
/ condemn him, to be revenged she gave him
{ IS money. OF course she could not have
done this alone, and she had an accomplice, a
;ool, named Matthias Zuber, otherwise known
rs Luversan.n
elbow was this discoveredf' asked She, in
he same strange voice, which seemed TO her